Useless Machine
The idea of the 'useless machine' was first implemented by the Italian artist Bruno Munari. He built several kinetic compositions, intending them to be thought of as machines because they were composed of movable parts that produced goods of a spiritual kind.
This useless machine originates from Munari's extensive view of how a 'machine' would function. It resembles a Sisyphean task — a magnetic ball is triggered by a sweep-second hand for an upward climb, yet it rolls back to the same place every time it nears the top. With no utilitarian purpose, the repetition of this machine is the very meaning, be it so laborious and futile.
For Bridge Hole by Off-Site
Photo & Video: Tsai Shi Fan
時間從來都不是中性的，當勞動與價值體系綁定。第二次工業革命之後，生產的行為便受各種量化指標評比，由結果論斷，然而其與時間密不可分的關係，卻備受忽略。
運作正是目的本身。這台無用機器1每秒運轉，意圖呈現生產過程中時間的消磨、勞動的重複，以及徒勞的真義。秒針掃掠，牽引著球體緩慢爬坡，卻在到達頂端的頃刻間滾落，彷彿將巨石推上山的薛西弗斯，待時間輪轉，週而復始，再一次朝山上走去。
1 無用機器的想法最早追溯自義大利藝術家 Bruno Munari，他製作了多個懸吊的幾何圖塊，堅稱它們如機器般作用，只是通過純粹藝術語言而非量化的生產指標。